Simon Ray, Chair
After studies at Oxford and teaching in Ghana and the UK, Simon has spent a career working in international development. He has directed UK Department for International Development (DFID) programmes in Africa and Eastern Europe, working with governments, civil society, multilateral institutions and other donors. Over the years, he has helped to develop systems for improved project design, management and assessment and led the launch of the UK Government’s Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in 2003. Simon has worked in the European Commission in Brussels and was, most recently, on the Board of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, an international financial institution that supports projects from central Europe to Central Asia.
Natalie Bonnett
Natalie was born and raised in Odesa, Ukraine. She studied Economics and International Business at LSE and earned an MBA in Analytic Finance from The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. With a background in management consulting and private equity, Natalie worked with some of the largest companies in the world and delivered complex projects on multiple continents while being recognized as an expert in developing markets.
As a passionate advocate for social justice, Natalie has dedicated much of her free time to charitable work. She is an active volunteer and co-founder of two organizations that support Ukrainian refugees and provide emergency supplies to war zones. As a charity trustee, Natalie brings her expertise in business and management to the table, helping to steer the organization towards its goals and make a meaningful impact in the community.
Aliya Boranbayeva
Aliya is a communications and advocacy professional with twenty years of experience working across multiple countries. Originally from Almaty, Kazakhstan, Aliya spent over a decade in London, where she gained valuable experience in marketing and communications. In her most recent role, she served as a Communications Consultant at the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) in Vienna, Austria, where she provided valuable support to the Civil Society Unit and Corruption and Economic Crime Branch.
In addition to her professional work, Aliya is deeply committed to giving back to her community. She volunteers her expertise to Women in Big Data Berlin, where she provides guidance on communications strategies, and serves as an International Advisory Group Member for Public Finance by Women (PFW). Aliya has dedicated over 15 years of her life to volunteering for various charities and causes, reflecting her deep commitment to ensuring that charitable organizations continue to grow and thrive. With her experience as a Communications Consultant, she brings valuable insights into the power of effective communication. Although currently residing in Germany, Aliya remains dedicated to making a difference in the lives of others.
Jim Coleman
In 2022 Jim retired from a 40 year career in financial services and banking during which he held senior positions at NatWest, Lloyds and Nationwide, and was Treasurer of PCF Bank, Sainsbury’s Bank and the Abu Dhabi Commercial Bank. Jim joined HealthProm as a Trustee and Treasurer in 2023, and in addition is a director of several UK-based businesses and chairs a community interest company. He holds a degree in mathematics from the University of St Andrews, has an MBA from Imperial College, and is a Fellow of the Association of Corporate Treasurers.
Jonathan Watkins
Jonathan is a qualified social worker registered with Social Work England. Having worked with HealthProm since 2004, he has supported parent-led NGOs in Russia and Central Asia. He is highly experienced in building the capacities of partner agencies to support families and protect children and women from harm.
Notably, he led HealthProm’s partnership work in Tajikistan, which successfully ended the placement of babies in institutions and established Child and Family Support Centres in their place. Jonathan teaches social workers internationally about child protection and family support. He has also worked through UNICEF with universities and governments in sub-Saharan Africa and Central America, as well as in the UK. Bringing a passion for children's rights and his experience as a practitioner to the board of trustees, he serves as the Lead Safeguarding Officer for HealthProm.
Jamal Hadari
Jamal Haidari was born in 1964 in the Kapisa province of Afghanistan, located to the north of Kabul. After completing his education up to the Bachelor's degree level, he began working in various government sectors in Afghanistan. He continued his career there until 1998 when, due to the ongoing conflict, he was forced to leave Afghanistan and later immigrated to the UK. In the UK, Jamal has worked across multiple sectors, including management and social work. At one point, he was involved in an educational program in Afghanistan. For the past 15 years, he has been actively engaged in community work.
Brenda Killen
Brenda Killen is Gavi’s Director of Governance. She leads governance processes for the Boards of both Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance – including COVAX – and the International Finance Facility for Immunisation (IFFIm). Brenda brings some 30 years of experience leading the governance of international organisations, partnerships and alliances, and she is passionate about engaging stakeholders across the sustainable development sphere.
Prior to joining Gavi in June 2020, Brenda held a number of senior international positions. As Deputy Director of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)’s Development Co‐operation Directorate, she built the Global Partnership for Effective Development Cooperation; and engaged developing countries, donors and civil society in setting standards for aid and modernising sustainable development finance. A member of OECD’s Senior Leadership Team, she was OECD’s envoy to the UN-led 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the G20 Development Working Group.
Previously, Brenda worked for the United Nations, where she was Director of the Scaling Up Nutrition (SUN) Movement Secretariat; the World Health Organization (WHO), where she helped define WHO’s role in development policy; the UK’s Department for International Development (DFID, since replaced by the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office), where she was a senior economist, and also served on the Boards of the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund; and the Government of Malawi, where she was a Treasury economist. Brenda was appointed to the UN Secretary-General’s Independent Accountability Panel for Every Woman Every Child from 2015 to 2020.
Brenda received an MSc in Economics from the London School of Economics.
